Third party location query for wireless networks

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method provides, to a first user, location-based information concerning a second user, and a system and computer-readable storage medium include computer-readable instructions for performing the same. The method includes determining that the second user is within a certain geographic area and communicating to the first user, by way of a wireless communication device of the first user, an identity of the second user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/909,401,filed Oct. 17, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/580,616, filed Oct. 16, 2009, which is a continuation U.S.application Ser. No. 11/589,688, filed Oct. 30, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,636,575), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/739,315, filed Dec. 19, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,130,630), theentireties of which are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of wireless networks, and inparticular, to wireless networks that track the location of wirelessnetwork devices.

BACKGROUND

In compliance with regulations promulgated by the Federal CommunicationsCommission (FCC), wireless networks will soon provide services that areable to determine the location of all network users. These federallymandated services, known as enhanced wireless 911 (E911) services, willrequire wireless telephones to provide 911 call centers, or PublicSafety Answering Points (PSAPs), with vital information necessary tolocate and identify a caller in an emergency. To comply with E911standards, wireless network providers will track the location andidentity information of all wireless callers, with the purpose ofproviding such information to emergency personnel when a caller dials911 from a wireless telephone. The FCC's wireless E911 rules requirecertain Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) carriers to begintransmission of enhanced location and identity information in twophases. Phase I requires carriers to transmit a caller's telephonenumber and general location to a PSAP. Phase II requires carriers toprovide more precise location information to the PSAP.

Under the FCC rules, wireless networks and the corresponding wirelesshandheld devices, such as cellular telephones, will provide both theidentity and location of the caller to a 911 dispatcher. To provide acaller's identity, the wireless handheld device will furnish a mobileidentification number (MIN), indicating in most instances the telephonenumber of the device. The wireless network and wireless handheld deviceswill provide the location of callers using a network-based locationsystem (e.g., triangulation), global positioning systems (GPSs) withinthe handheld devices, or a combination of the two systems.

Although, in large part, wireless network providers will implement thelocation tracking systems to comply with the FCC standards, oncecompleted, the providers will have the ability to offer otherlocation-based services supported by the E911 infrastructure. Indeed,beyond the needs of PSAPs in emergency situations, there are manyinstances in which it is helpful to know the location of a network user.For example, a service dispatcher monitoring the activities of hisservice technicians may wish to determine the exact locations of histechnicians to facilitate efficient scheduling. Although, withconventional mobile telephone networks, the dispatcher could call andask the technician for his location, the dispatcher may prefer toascertain the location information without interrupting the technician'sactivities.

Other location tracking systems provide the ability to determine aperson's location without communicating with (or interrupting) theperson. However, these solutions require dedicated networks and networkdevices. For instance, although a global positioning system can providea person's location without contacting the person, the system requiresthat the party requesting the location information (referred to hereinas the “requestor”) have communication hardware that receives thelocation information from the person's GPS receiver. For example, in atypical fleet vehicle tracking system, the fleet manager must purchaseand maintain a central processor that communicates with the GPS receiverin each vehicle.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a location query service for use with awireless network that tracks the location of network devices. Theservice provides requestors with the locations of network users, basedon the locations of the users' wireless network devices. The serviceenables a requestor to obtain a network user's location withoutrequiring communication with the user. In addition, the service relievesa requestor of the burden of purchasing and maintaining dedicatedlocation tracking equipment by taking advantage of existingcommunication infrastructures, such as global computer networks, PublicSwitched Telephone Networks (PSTNs), and wireless networks (with theirsoon-to-be-implemented location systems).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thelocation query service receives a location query from a requestor for anetwork user, retrieves the location information of the network user,and returns the location information to the requestor. Preferably, therequestor is an authorized requestor and the service authenticates thatthe requestor is authorized before returning the location information tothe requestor. Within the query, the requestor provides anidentification of the network user, such as a name, telephone number,Internet address, or electronic mail (email) address. The service of thepresent invention supports a variety of communication methods throughwhich a requestor can submit a location query, for example, voice callsthrough the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to an interactivevoice response unit (IVRU), personal computer access through a globalcomputer network, and cellular telephone access through a globalcomputer network.

In processing location queries, an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention gives the network user control of who can receive his locationinformation. The network user provides the service with a list ofauthorized requestors who may receive the user's location information.The service authenticates that a requestor is authorized beforeforwarding location information.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thelocation query service prompts a network user each time an unauthorizedrequestor asks for location information. An unauthorized requestor is arequestor who is not designated on a network user's list of authorizedrequestors and who has not been pre-approved to receive the user'slocation information. With these “off-list” requests, the network userpermits or denies access for unauthorized (off-list) requestors on anindividual basis, while automatically permitting access by authorized(on-list) requestors.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system of the present invention includesa user wireless network and a location server. The user wireless networkis in communication with a plurality of network devices-operated by aplurality of network users. The user wireless network is also incommunication with a location system for determining the location ofeach network device. The location server is in communication with thewireless network and with a plurality of requestors. The location serveraccommodates a variety of interfaces in communicating with the pluralityof requestors. For example, for Internet protocol (IP) communication,the location server communicates with the plurality of requestorsthrough a global computer network, e.g., the Internet. As anotherexample, for voice communication, the location server communicates withthe plurality of requestors through a PSTN.

According to an exemplary method of the present invention, the locationserver receives a location query for a network user from a requestor,retrieves the user's location from the location system, and forwards thelocation back to the requestor. Preferably, the location server alsoconfirms that the requestor is authorized to receive the user'slocation. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, if the location systemprovides the location in a “raw” form, not easily understood by thetypical requestor (e.g., x-y position coordinates), the method furtherincludes translating the location from the raw form to a “displayable”form (e.g., a street address, building name, or area name). The systemcomponent that executes this translation function is a mappingconverter. The mapping converter can be provisioned in several locationswithin the system, from the requestors device to the devices of theplurality of requestors.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide arequestor with the location of a wireless network user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless networkuser with the ability to automatically furnish specified requestors withthe location of the network user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless networkuser with the ability to approve or deny access to the user's locationinformation by a requestor who has not been pre-approved.

These and other objects of the present invention are described ingreater detail in the detailed description of the invention, theappended drawings, and the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture that provides thelocation query service according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart tracing the steps for providing a location queryservice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture that provides thelocation query service according to an alternative exemplary embodiment,in which a device's location is periodically recorded in a locationdatabase 300.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture that provides thelocation query service according to an alternative exemplary embodimentof the present invention, with the mapping converter provisioned inalternative locations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is a location query service for use with awireless network that tracks the locations of network users. Thelocation query service provides a requestor with the location of anetwork user. In providing this service, the present inventioncontemplates future enhanced digital cellular networks, in which networkusers will use digital cellular handheld devices to access data from aglobal computer network, and in which digital cellular network providerswill track the location of each network user.

Referring to FIG. 1, the primary components of an exemplary embodimentof the present invention include a location server 100 and a userwireless network 102. User wireless network 102 is in communication witha plurality of network devices 104. Location server 100 is incommunication with user wireless network 102 and with a plurality ofrequestors 106. The plurality of requestors 106 employ any suitablemeans to communicate with location server 100, but preferably use atleast one of a PC requestor 108, a wireless requestor 110, and awireline requestor 112. For communication between location server 100and PC requestor 108, the present invention includes a global computernetwork 114. For communication between location server 100 and wirelessrequestor 110 (which has IP messaging capabilities), the presentinvention includes a requestor wireless network 116 and global computernetwork 114 for IP messaging, and requestor wireless network 116 and aPSTN 118 for voice communication. For communication between locationserver 100 and wireline requestor 112, the present invention includesPSTN 118.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, userwireless network 102 is in communication with a location system 120 thatprovides the locations of the plurality of network devices 104. Locationsystem 120 includes one or both of handheld location systems 122 and anetwork-based location system 124. Handheld location systems 122 areprovisioned in wireless handheld devices 104. Network-based locationsystems 124 are part of user wireless network 102.

Location system 120 provides the location information, e.g., positioncoordinates, of a handheld device, which indicates where a network useris located. Location system 120 can be a part of the wireless network orcan be contained in the handheld devices. In an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, location system 120 is both apart of the wireless network and is also contained in the handhelddevices. For example, suitable methods of determining location as a partof the wireless network include Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) locationservices, Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) location systems, Angle ofArrival (AOA) location systems, and other systems using triangulationacross cell sites or cell sectors. An example of a suitable locationsystem in the handheld devices is a GPS.

If location system 120 provides location information in raw form, afurther exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a mappingconverter 126. An example of information in raw form would be GPScoordinates, with which the typical telephone user is unfamiliar. Asused herein, “raw” refers to location information in a rudimentary form,such that a typical telephone user would find it difficult tounderstand. “Displayable” refers to location information easilyunderstood by a typical network user. Although displayable may imply avisual communication, as used herein, the term extends to other forms ofcommunication, such as audio-based communication. Mapping converter 126includes a cross-referenced database that allows mapping converter 126to translate raw location information into displayable locationinformation. For example, the database of mapping converter 126 couldinclude an entry associating coordinates “R-S” (raw information) withthe description “101 Park Place” (displayable information).

Although shown as a separate component of the system in FIG. 1, mappingconverter 126 could be integral to a component described above. One ofordinary skill in the art would understand that the functions andstructure of mapping converter 126 could be located in several differentplaces, anywhere from location system 120 to the communication devicesof the requestors 106. For example, mapping converter 126 could belocated within network-based location system 124. As another example,mapping converter 126 could also be located within location server 100.Regardless of where mapping converter 126 is provisioned, the desiredend result is to deliver displayable location information to theplurality of requestors 106.

Location server 100 executes the service logic of the present invention,including receiving location queries from requestors 106, confirming theaccess levels of requestors 106, obtaining the location information ofwireless network devices 104, and returning the location information torequestors 106. Although shown as a separate component in FIG. 1, one ofordinary skill in the art would appreciate that location server 100could be a part of another system component, such as user wirelessnetwork 102, PSTN 118, or global computer network 114.

In a representative embodiment, location server 100 consists of twocomponents. The first component is a locating mechanism (such aslocation system 120) that determines locations of network devices 104using various technologies (e.g., GPS, triangulation, radio signaldelay, and cell sector) and combinations thereof. The location mechanismcan reside in a network device (e.g., GPS) or within user wirelessnetwork 102. The location mechanism produces x-y coordinates that aretypically transmitted to the second component of location server 100,which could be in the same box or could be connected via an IP network.The second component of location server 100 integrates the coordinateinformation into various mapping systems and provides an interface toother applications through various protocols, of which IP is the mostcommon.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, location server 100is in communication with a memory storage 128. Memory storage 128 is adatabase or other memory storage device that can record relationshipsbetween device identifications (e.g., MINs) and network useridentifications. In addition, memory storage contains authorizedrequestor lists for each device identification. Although FIG. 1 showsmemory storage 128 as a separate component of the system accessible tolocation server 100, memory storage 128 could be contained withinlocation server 100.

Wireless handheld devices 104 operate over user wireless network 102.Familiar examples include pagers and cellular telephones. As a minimum,wireless handheld devices 104 provide network users with wirelesscommunication and cooperate with user wireless network 102 to providethe location of the device. This cooperation may simply involve wirelesstransmissions to user wireless network 102 that enable network-basedlocation system 124 to ascertain the locations of devices 104. Or, inconjunction with network-based location system 124, wireless handhelddevices 104 may include handheld location systems 122, such as GPSsintegral to the devices. To facilitate the alternative exemplaryembodiment in which a network user responds to off-list requests,wireless handheld devices 104 include messaging capabilities that cancommunicate a request for access, the identification of the unauthorizedrequestor, and a response by the network user. For example, suchmessaging capabilities can be audio-based, text-based, or graphical.Preferably, wireless handheld devices 104 are WAP-compatible thinclients having thin browsers adapted to access global computer network114 and to communicate with, location server 100.

Global computer network 114 provides communication between TCP/IPrequestor devices and location server 100. Preferably, global computernetwork 114 is the Internet. Also, preferably, network 114 provides auser-friendly interface, e.g., a graphical user interface, through whicha requestor can submit a location query. With a graphical user interface(GUI), the requestor device, such as PC requestor 108, is provisionedwith software that cooperates with the GUI. Global computer network 114also preferably supports communication with WAP-compatible wirelessdevices, such as wireless requestor 110. With these WAP-compatiblewireless devices, requestor wireless network 116 provides communicationbetween wireless requester 110 and global computer network 114.

PSTN 118 provides communication between PSTN devices and location server100. Along with requestor wireless network 116, PSTN 118 also providescommunication: between wireless requestors and location server 100.Location server 100 preferably supports a number of different protocols,at least one of which is IP. PSTN 118 preferably includes a Voice XML(Extensible Markup Language) server, which allows PSTN 118 to interfacewith location server 100 and provides a common markup language forsupporting voice browsing applications. The Voice XML server couldinclude, for example, an IVRU allowing a requestor to use a touch-tonepad to navigate the application.

The plurality of requestors 106 communicate with location server 100using a device compatible with location server 100 or compatible with aninterface between the requestors 106 and location server 100. Globalcomputer network 114 and PSTN 118 are examples of these types ofinterfaces. Compatible devices include personal computers and IPwireless devices for global computer network 114, and standard wirelinetelephones for PSTN 118.

Together, the above components provide the location query service asoutlined in the flowchart of FIG. 2, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. While the system operationdescribed herein and illustrated in the diagram and flowchart containsmany specific details, these specific details should not be construed aslimitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples ofexemplary embodiments thereof. As would be apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art, many other variations on the system operation arepossible, including differently grouped and ordered method steps.Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by theembodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

As shown in step 200, a requestor submits a location query to locationserver 100. The query includes at least an identification of therequestor and an identification of the network user about whom therequestor desires location information. Optionally, the query alsoincludes a password, which enables a location query service provider toallow access to the service only by requestors who pay for the service.Alternatively, only the network user pays for the service and gives herauthorized requestors a password to gain access to the service.

The requestor submits the query using any number of communications mediasupported by location server 100 and the requestor's individualcommunication device. For example, if the requestor uses a personalcomputer 108 linked to location server 100 through global computernetwork 114, the requestor could initiate the query using a graphicaluser interface. As another example, if the requestor uses a textmessaging wireless device 110 linked to location server 100 throughrequestor wireless network 116 and global computer network 114, therequestor could initiate the query using a menu driven interface or aseries of key sequence inputs. As another example, if the requestor usesa wireline telephone, the requestor could interact with an IVRU usingthe requestor's touch-tone keys to initiate the query.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention accommodates thevariety of ways in which a requestor can identify the network user thatthe requestor wishes to locate. For example, the requestor can give atelephone number, name, Internet address, or email address of thenetwork user. In response, location server 100, global computer network114, PSTN 118, or a separate system component consults a database crossreferencing this information and translates the given identificationinto an identification of the network user's wireless device (e.g., theMIN). As described later in this process, location server 100 provideslocation system 120 with this device identification to search for thelocation of the device.

Once location server 100 has received the query, in step 202, locationserver 100 determines whether the requestor is an authorized requestorand whether the network user in question accepts requests fromunauthorized off-list requestors to view the network user's locationinformation. Location server 100 determines if the requestor is anauthorized requestor by consulting memory storage 128, which contains alist that the network user provides. The list indicates which people(requestors) have access to the network user's location information.Although shown as a separate system component in FIG. 1, memory storage128 could be a part of location server 100, such that the list is storedin location server 100.

Along with the access list, the network user specifies a user preferencedictating whether the network user will entertain requests to releaseher location information to requestors not on the access list. The userpreference is also preferably stored in memory storage 128, but can bestored in any location accessible to location server 100. Locationserver 100 consults this user preference if the requestor is not on theaccess list.

If the requestor is unauthorized and the network user does not acceptindividual requests to release location information, in step 204 a,location server 100 returns a message to the requestor reporting thatthe location query has been denied.

If the requester is unauthorized, but the network user does entertainrequests to release location information, in step 204 b, location server100 asks the network user if the requestor can receive the networkuser's location information. In asking for approval, location server 100provides the network user with the identity of the requestor. If thenetwork user chooses not to release her location information to therequestor, in step 204 c, location server 100 returns a message to therequester reporting that the location query has been denied.

If, in step 204 b, the network user chooses to release her locationinformation to the requestor, in step 204 d, location server 100proceeds with determining the location information of the wirelessdevice. Likewise, if originally in step 202, location server determinesthat the requestor is on the access list and is authorized, locationserver 100 proceeds with determining the location information of thewireless device in step 204 d.

In step 204 d, location server 100 asks user wireless network 102 forthe location information of the network user. In this inquiry, locationserver 100 includes the identification of the device corresponding tothe network user.

In step 206 a, user wireless network 102 uses location system 120 todetermine the location of the specified network device. User wirelessnetwork 102 monitors wireless handheld devices that are powered on. Inmost instances, a network user simply turns on his wireless handhelddevice and, if it is a text messaging device, leaves the networkinterface open, perhaps to a web page. The initial accessing of the webpage or the completion of any other wireless transmission (e.g., placingof a wireless telephone call) provides user wireless network 102 withlocation and identity information. In addition, each time the web pageautomatically refreshes, or each time the network user enters a browsecommand, user wireless network 102 receives updated locationinformation. Thus, after location server 100 asks user wireless network102 for the location of the network user, location system 120 of userwireless network 102 waits for the next transmission by the networkdevice and determines the location information from that transmission.Alternatively, instead of having location server 100 query user wirelessnetwork 102 for location information regarding a specific mobile device,location system 120 could be configured to continuously track devicesand push location information to location server 100.

As another way to avoid a prolonged wait for the transmission providingthe location information, in an alternative exemplary embodiment, asshown in FIG. 3, the present invention periodically records a device'slocation in a location database 300. Therefore, instead of activatinglocation system 120 only in response to a request from location server100, location system 120 of user wireless network 102 periodicallyupdates location database 300 and always has location informationavailable when location server 100 makes a request. In such a case, asshown in step 206 b, location server 100 checks location database 300for the location information of the network user. Although maintaining adatabase that is periodically updated for all network devices requiresconsiderable amounts of data storage, this alternative embodimentprovides a more immediate response to the requestor.

In steps 206 a or 206 b, location system 120 of user wireless network102 provides the location information in either raw or displayableforms. If location system 120 provides raw location information, such asx-y coordinates, the method of the present invention preferably furtherincludes translating the raw data to a displayable message, easilycomprehended by a typical requestor. Mapping converter 126 executes thistranslation and the method of the present invention varies dependingupon where mapping converter 126 is provisioned (as described below andshown in FIG. 4).

In step 208, if location system 120 provides raw location informationand mapping converter 126 is provisioned in user wireless network 102,user wireless network 102 translates the raw location information to adisplayable form before returning the location information to locationserver 100. If location system 120 provides the location information indisplayable form, or if location system 120 provides the locationinformation in raw form and user wireless network 102 does not have amapping converter, user wireless network 102 simply forwards thelocation information.

In step 210, user wireless network 102 returns the location information,whether raw or displayable, to location server 100. In step 212, if thelocation information is in raw form and location server 100 containsmapping converter 126, location server 100 translates the locationinformation to displayable form. Finally, in step 214, location server100 returns the location information of the network user back to therequestor.

Specific Examples of Exemplary Embodiments

The benefits of the present invention apply to numerous situations inwhich a requestor wants to know the location of a network user. The mostapplicable situations involve network users that require a certaindegree of supervision by another (the requestor). Examples of thesetypes of network users include parolees, the elderly, and children. Ineach case, the present invention provides a location query service bymaking use of a wireless device that the network user would otherwisealready be using for its primary purpose, e.g., a cellular telephoneused for personal voice communication.

As another specific example, the present invention could be implementedin the context of an instant messaging service. A user could have aninstant messaging service configured to display only the friends of thatuser who are in the same city as the user. When a friend's name appearson the user's instant messaging screen, the user may want the option toquery for the location of the friend to determine, for example, whetherthe friend is near enough to have lunch and, if so, to select arestaurant that is conveniently located for the friend and the user.Using the present invention to obtain the location information wouldsave the user from having to send a message to the friend asking for thelocation of the friend. The location query of the present inventioncould be explicit or implicit, occurring in the background of theinstant messaging service, as a result of a configuration option or anaction in the application.

The foregoing disclosure of embodiments of the present invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodimentsdescribed herein will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art inlight of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to bedefined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, for providing, to a first user, location-based information concerning a second user, comprising: determining by a processor, a present location of a first wireless device associated with the first user; identifying, by the processor, a predetermined location distinct from the present location of the first wireless device; determining, by the processor, whether a second wireless device associated with the second user is within a certain proximity of the predetermined location; communicating, by the processor to the first wireless device, in response to determining that the second wireless device is within the certain proximity of the predetermined location, an identity of the second user; receiving, in response to communicating the identify of the second user, from the first user, from the first wireless device, a query seeking location information for the second user; determining whether the first user is authorized to receive the location information related to the second user, including accessing a second-user-specified access list indicating which requestors are allowed to obtain location information of the second user; providing, if it is determined that the first user is authorized to receive the location information related to the second user, to the first wireless device, the location information; and if it is determined that the first user is not authorized to receive the location information related to the second user: determining whether the second user accepts location requests from unauthorized requestors, including accessing a second-user-specified user preference dictating whether the second user will entertain requests to release the location information of the second user from unauthorized requesters; and sending to the second user, in response to determining that the second user accepts location requests from unauthorized users, a location request for obtaining authorization to provide the location information to user of the first wireless device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the method is for providing to the first user location-based information concerning the second user in connection with an instant messaging service; the first user is a first instant messaging service user; and the second user is a second instant messaging service user.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location is a city identified to the system by the first user.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location is a predetermined destination location identified by the first user.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: determining that the second user is within the predetermined location is performed in a determination operation; the communicating is performed in a communication operation; the determination operation includes identifying each friend of the first user, including the second user, who is within the certain proximity of the predetermined location; and the communication operation includes displaying, by way of the first wireless device, identifying information for each friend identified in the determination operation.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed at the first wireless device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed at a computer server remote to the first wireless device.
 8. A tangible computer-readable storage medium, for providing, to a first user, location-based information concerning a second user, comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: determining a present location of a first wireless device associated with the first user; identifying a predetermined location distinct from the present location of the first wireless device; determining whether a second wireless device associated with the second user is within a certain proximity of the predetermined location; and communicating, by the processor, to the first wireless device, in response to determining that the second wireless device is within the certain proximity of the predetermined location, an identity of the second user; receiving, in response to communicating the identity of the second user, from the first user, from the first wireless device, a query seeking location information for the second user; determining whether the first user is authorized to receive location information related to the second user, including accessing a second-user-specified access list indicating which requestors are allowed to obtain location information of the second user; providing, if it is determined that the first user is authorized to receive the location information related to the second user, to the first wireless device, the location information; and if it is determined that the first user is not authorized to receive the location information related to the second user: determining whether the second user accepts location requests from unauthorized requestors, including accessing a second-user-specified user preference dictating whether the second user will entertain requests to release the location information of the second user from unauthorized requestors; and sending to the second user, in response to determining that the second user accepts location requests from unauthorized users, a location request for obtaining authorization to provide the location information to user of the first wireless device.
 9. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein: the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the operations further comprising providing, to the first user, location-based information concerning the second user in connection with an instant messaging service; the first user is a first instant messaging service user; and the second user is a second instant messaging service user.
 10. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein: the determining is performed in a determination operation; the communicating is a part of a communication operation; the determination operation includes identifying each friend of the first user, including the second user, who is within the certain proximity of the predetermined location; and the communication operation includes displaying, by way of the first wireless device, identifying information for each friend identified in the determination operation.
 11. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the tangible computer-readable storage medium is a part of at least one device selected from a group of devices consisting of: the first wireless device; and a computer server remote to the wireless communication device.
 12. A system, for providing, to a first user, location-based information concerning a second user, comprising: a processor; and a tangible computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: determining a present location of a first wireless device associated with the first user; identifying a predetermined location distinct from the present location of the first wireless device; determining whether a second wireless device associated with the second user is within a certain proximity of the predetermined location; and communicating, by the processor, to the first wireless device, in response to determining that the second wireless device is within the certain proximity of the predetermined location, an identity of the second user; receiving, in response to communicating the identify of the second user, from the first user, from the first wireless device, a query seeking location information for the second user; determining whether the first user is authorized to receive location information related to the second user, including accessing a second-user-specified access list indicating which requestors are allowed to obtain location information of the second user; providing, if it is determined that the first user is authorized to receive the location information related to the second user, to the first wireless device, the location information; and if it is determined that the first user is not authorized to receive the location information related to the second user: determining whether the second user accepts location requests from unauthorized requestors, including accessing a second-user-specified user preference dictating whether the second user will entertain requests to release the location information of the second user from unauthorized requestors; and sending to the second user, in response to determining that the second user accepts location requests from unauthorized users, a location request for obtaining authorization to provide the location information to user of the first wireless device.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein: the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the operations further comprising providing, to the first user, location-based information concerning the second user, to the first user, in connection with an instant messaging service; the first user is a first instant messaging service user; and the second user is a second instant messaging service user. 